PETALING JAYA, Nov 27 — As more houses become out of reach for young wage-earners, a new phenomenon has emerged of newlyweds choosing to live with parents to save money.

The downside of the arrangement is the revised living conditions have raised the ire of siblings.

A couple who wished only to be known as Nur and Muhammad, found this the only alternative three years ago after being unable to make ends meet.

Muhammad went through a career change early in the marriage while Nur was pursuing her master’s degree.

They did make enough between the two of them to support themselves without seeking refuge in Muhammad’s family home.

“I just couldn’t let myself stay in a job that made me so unhappy. I did not want to be in that situation if I had a child which was why I needed to do it, regardless of how well it paid,” he said.

The couple with a household income of RM3,000 still stays with his parents where they raise their children aged one and three.

“I try to provide for my wife and children as best I can besides contributing to  household expenditure,” he said.

Muhammad said he spent RM700 on transportation, RM600 on outings with his wife and children, RM500 on loans, RM200 on powdered milk and RM150 on diapers.

“I also give my wife RM200 as pocket money,” he said.

Nur, who runs an online boutique, did not wish to state how much she earns but that she started it to earn extra money.

Muhammad’s sister, who wanted to be known as Salina, is not supportive of the arrangement as it appeared as if the couple were exploiting her parents.

“As much as I understand the financial difficulties of raising a family in this economic situation,  I don’t think it excuses them from hardly ever contributing to household expenditure,” she said.

“Especially when they demand we have a cleaning service to come in the weekends and yet not cough up the RM200 it costs.”

Another couple, Tim and Sya, said they began to stay with his parents as they could not afford to stay on their own.

Tim, an event manager, and Sya, a stay-at-home mother, share the house with his parents, two sisters and two brothers.

“We began our marriage living with my family and after four years and two kids, we think we’ll just continue staying here,” he said.

“We contribute by buying groceries and paying outstanding bills but most of our money is spent on our children,” he said.

Tim’s sister, Tina, feel like the two are not doing enough for the household.

“They think our house is some kind of a free day care centre where they leave their children for my mother to look after as they go on with their daily lives,” she said.

“My sister-in-law doesn’t work and I don’t understand why she can’t just take care of her own children.”